I help people get STRONGER & to lift more weights.

Menu

Tag Archives:
speaking

In May, I was invited to attend a training class to formulate and express my story in regards to mental health. After I was selected to attend the training and the speaking event I was emailed a questionnaire. The instructors wanted to know the subject area of what I wanted to share. I truthfully had no idea what to discuss. Knowing that the story sharing time was a mere 5-7 minutes was intimidating to remain relevant while within the guidelines expected.

I asked my wife, Kristen what she thought regarding a topic to speak on. She encouraged me to just pray about it and give it time; adding that whatever I pick will be great. There is nothing like that vote of confidence that isn’t lip service, full of genuine belief. Encouraged with my pep talk from Kristen I decided to weigh the topics I found to be most relevant for this actual event.

The JED Foundation was the group footing the bill for this amazing opportunity and their focus is suicide education with high schools and colleges. I considered my personal experiences in relationship to this very current and devastating topic. Unfortunately, I have alot of choices riddled with the epidemic that is suicide.

I decided on story from my life that profoundly impacted me for years. The video in this is that story. I hope it is helpful for you or someone you care about. I am always open to questions and dialogue. I am not a therapist but I have alot of personal experience to share or just listen.

**TRIGGER WARNING: GRAPHIC DETAILS**

Since sharing this video I have been contacted by numerous people looking to thank me, find resources, talk or just to say it helped them to find the words to talk to a friend.

Dave Tate of EliteFTS even reshared the video that I hope keeps speaking to a group of people that need to be reminded that strength isn’t always about what you can lift.